News

Walton County Sheriff's Office Hosts District Attorney's Office For Day of Training at Gun Range:

Last week, both the Newton and Walton District Attorney Offices were closed for a day of training at the Walton County Sheriff's Office gun range. About 50 members of the DA's Offices attended the day that included lecture type training, small group training, and time on the range firing handguns.

District Attorney's Office at Walton County Sheriff's Office Firearm Range Training Room

The training was led by Lt. Jeff Taylor, who discussed topics such as self-defense, firearm safety, and firearm operation. Lt. Taylor then joined with Lt. Bo Huff, Cpl. James Jackson, Sgt. Matt Hensley, and Deputy Mark West provided further training in small groups along with District Attorney's Office Investigators Josh Chambers, Eric Yarbrough, Randy Temples, and Danny Peppers. While some with the DA's Office have extensive experience and training with firearms, some had never fired a handgun.

Deputy Chief Assistant District Attorney Bailey Wilkinson also taught on safely and persuasively presenting firearm evidence at trial.

"I am grateful to Sheriff Keith Brooks for his commitment to collaboration between his office and the District Attorney's Office. Joint training like this goes a long way to making both our offices better at keeping our communities safe. Lt. Taylor's extensive knowledge and pride in what he does made this a wonderful event for every member of my office. I extend my continued thanks to every member of the Sheriff's Office that helped with this training. I also want to thank every Investigator in the District Attorney's Office. In addition to the hard work they put in every day to ensure our office obtains justice for those victimized by crime, they keep the rest of the office safe and secure."

Randy McGinley

District Attorney

Alcovy Judicial Circuit

Monroe man in his 60s pleads guilty to second lifetime sex offense:

With a jury trial scheduled for next week, Eugene Seats pleaded guilty today to Aggravated Child Molestation, Aggravated Sexual Battery, and Sexual Battery Against a Child Under the Age of 16. Seats had previously served a prison sentence after pleading guilty to Child Molestation, Statutory Rape, and Incest in Newton County in 2006.

The investigation into the current case began in July of 2023 when the minor victim fled her home to call 911. Officers responded and the victim told them that Seats, who was in a relationship with the victim's mother, had been sexually abusing the victim. The victim was later forensically interviewed where she described the abuse in detail.

The State had previously sought, and the Court allowed, evidence of the 2006 child molestation to be admitted if the case proceeded to trial. The victim in that case was prepared to testify about the facts that led to Seats' guilty plea in 2006.

After hearing from the State and the defense, the Court sentenced Seats to 25 years to serve without parole followed by life on probation. Seats will be in his late 80s when he is released from prison.

In March of this year, the victim's mother in this case, Rene Long pleaded guilty to Cruelty to Children in the Second Degree for her actions and inactions to allow the victim to continue to be around and alone with Seats. Long was sentenced to 10 years with the first 2 years to be served in confinement.

The case was prosecuted by Senior Assistant District Attorney Lacey Majors, Victim Services Directory Kim Kelly, Chief Investigator Josh Chambers, and Senior Legal Assistant Melanie Sims. The arrest and investigation was handled by the Monroe Police Department. The victim received services from A Child's Voice Child Advocacy Center.

Randy McGinley

District Attorney

Alcovy Judicial Circuit

Randy McGinley Named District Attorney of the Year:

The District Attorneys Association of Georgia has named Randy McGinley, District Attorney for the Alcovy Judicial Circuit, as the 2025 District Attorney of the Year. The honor was announced at the annual summer conference put on by the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia where prosecutors and investigators from across the state gathered for professional training and collaboration.

McGinley serves as District Attorney of the Alcovy Judicial Circuit – Walton and Newton counties – since June of 2020. He first joined the office in 2011 and served as the Chief Assistant District Attorney from 2017 until his appointed as DA following former DA Layla Zon’s appointment to the Superior Court bench.

McGinley recently served as the President of the District Attorney’s Association of Georgia from July 2024 until June 2025, playing a key role in supporting prosecutorial efforts statewide. In 2024, he was tapped to prosecute serious felony cases in other jurisdictions, where he obtained a guilty verdict from a Clarke County jury on a rape, child molestation case and a guilty plea in a murder of a cab driver in Columbus, Georgia. He has often appeared in front of both the Georgia Senate and Georgia House of Representatives advocating for prosecutors and testifying regarding the potential impact of proposed legislation.

This honor recognizes McGinley’s “dedication, energy and outstanding service to the citizens of Georgia.”

“It’s an incredible honor to be recognized by my peers from across Georgia,” McGinley said. “I’m proud to serve Walton and Newton counties and work alongside so many dedicated prosecutors, investigators, advocates, and law enforcement professionals every day.”